Minnesota Twins pitcher Deolis Guerra works on his pickoff move during the first day of spring training baseball for pitchers and catchers in Fort Myers, Fla., Friday, Feb. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Carlos Gomez, Kevin Mulvey and Philip Humber are long gone. That leaves Deolis Guerra as the last man standing from the blockbuster trade that sent Johan Santana to the New York Mets in 2008.

“I feel proud to be here still,” Guerra said Thursday. “I feel proud to be the last guy here from that trade.”

But understanding the true success or failure of a baseball trade is a lot like understanding biblical history. It’s all about who begat whom.

For example, in February 1998 then-general manager Terry Ryan traded disgruntled second baseman Chuck Knoblauch to the New York Yankees for Eric Milton, Brian Buchanan, Cristian Guzman and Danny Mota. On the surface, it appeared to be a pretty good trade for both sides.

But in 2002, Buchanan begat Jason Bartlett via a trade to the San Diego Padres. And in 2003, Eric Milton begat Carlos Silva and Nick Punto when he was traded to the Phillies. Then in 2007, Bartlett, along with Matt Garza, begat Delmon Young, Brendan Harris and Jason Pridie in a trade with the Rays.

So Delmon Young is a direct descendant of the Knoblauch trade, which has become the gift that just keeps on giving.

In February 2008, Twins GM Bill Smith traded Santana, probably the league’s best pitcher, to the Mets for Gomez, Humber, Mulvey and Guerra. So far, this trade has not developed deep roots. Humber was a terrible pitcher and has kicked around the minor leagues. Mulvey was traded to Arizona for Jon Rauch, who was helpful last season. But Rauch then left as a free agent, which makes that leg of the trade a dead end.

Gomez supposedly was the centerpiece of the deal, but he turned out to have the baseball IQ of a fungo bat and was traded to Milwaukee for J.J. Hardy. A disappointment, Hardy was traded over the winter to Baltimore along with Brendan Harris for relievers Jim Hoey and Brett Jacobson. Hoey is in camp and has at least an outside chance of making the team as a reliever.

That brings us to Guerra, who was just an 18-year-old baby and probably the fourth man on the totem pole in that Santana trade. History probably will judge that blockbuster based on the development of Guerra, a starting pitcher. He is 21 now and has been pitching professionally since he was 16.

“It was a big thing being traded for one of the best pitchers in the league,” Guerra said. “Johan Santana was a good pitcher, and they traded for me. That gave me some energy and made me work harder. It shows they saw something in me.

“This is my sixth year. I’m only 21. It’s been good getting a lot of experience at a young age. When you play with guys who are older than you, you can learn a lot from them.”

Guerra, from Venezuela, is a strapping youngster. He stands 6 feet 5, 245 pounds. He still might make that Santana trade look good.

“I’ve been saying he is the most improved pitcher in camp,” said pitching coach Rick Anderson. “I think he is a kid who was rushed a little bit before he got to us. It seems like he’s been here forever, and he’s only 21.”

The Twins moved Guerra slowly through their farm system. Finally, he spent time at both the Double-A and Triple-A levels last season but didn’t really have success at either. He’s also had a few injury problems. He’s got a terrific curveball. But he’s so young that he’s still trying to figure it all out.

“You know, sometimes things happen in baseball,” Guerra said. “Sometimes you have good starts, sometimes bad starts. I was going good. But I couldn’t keep getting the same results. I have to let that all go and keep working.”

He’s also had to learn how to do things the Twins way, which often is a problem for those coming from other organizations. He knew virtually nothing about the franchise until he was traded.

“But as soon as I started to play here, I’ve been learning a lot of stuff,” he said. “Most important has been how to do things the right way and to respect the game.”

He’s got a chance. Unless Hoey turns out to be something special or is traded for something special, Guerra will carry the weight of that trade.

“I know I am the last one,” he said. “I feel great, and I am in good shape. I always say as soon as I am healthy and my arm is good, I’m close.”

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